Business & Economy
India US Trade Talks Stall At Plateau
Both sides still negotiate, but tariffs and market access stay stuck.
Both sides still negotiate, but tariffs and market access stay stuck.
India and the United States are still trying to reach a trade deal, but the talks have slowed because both sides say they have little left to offer. The biggest sticking points are , access to each other’s markets, and how far each country should go in opening . Washington also wants to cut its with India. A deal could make it easier for companies to sell goods in both countries, but the delay keeps businesses unsure and may push back any price cuts from lower .
Sitharaman added that there still may be some room to operate and that both sides could explore what remained possible. That kept the talks open even as she described the current stage as one where further would be very difficult.
US trade officials also signaled that a deal was , reinforcing the sense that the negotiations had slowed into a harder phase. Their comments added to the view that the talks were still alive, but no longer close to a breakthrough.
The main sticking points remained , market access, and the balance of concessions each side was willing to make. Reports on the talks said the agreement was being negotiated in a hard and rigorous way, with both sides protecting sensitive sectors.
Sitharaman said the favored India and that the US was focused on narrowing its with India. That framing showed that the deal was not just about tariff cuts, but also about Washington's pressure for a narrower trade gap.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the India-US trade talks had reached a , with both sides seeming to have little room left to give or take. She said the negotiations were still ongoing, but warned that moving beyond this point would be very difficult.
India and the United States began negotiating a in February 2025, with both sides aiming to deepen economic ties and resolve long-running problems. The talks also carried a broader economic edge, because Washington wanted progress on issues tied to its with India.